healing foods

Over the past few years, the term ‘superfood’ has become a popular buzzword in the food and health language. We all know that an active lifestyle combined with a balanced diet packed with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables remains the best way to ensure optimal health. However, some foods are so nutrient dense that they stand out from the rest.

These super nutrient-dense foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and other health-boosting phytonutrients. When we think of superfoods things such as kale, blueberries, chia seeds, and goji berries immediately spring to mind. While these are touted for their super powers, every year new contenders that offer a tremendous dietary and healing potential are added to the superfood list.

The superfood fad is set to continue in 2017, so here are the past year’s trendiest health foods that will carry their superfood status into the new year.

1. Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the green plant pigment crucial for the process of photosynthesis. It pulls in light rays from the sun and converts them to energy. Besides sustaining plant life, it turns out adding chlorophyll to your yogurt bowl, water, or cold-pressed juice has some tremendous effects on human health too.

Chlorophyll is an excellent liver detoxifier that promotes energy, mental clarity, and weight loss. Furthermore, it has been shown to bind and eliminate environmental pollutants including toxic heavy metals, pollution, and certain carcinogens.

2. Activated charcoal

While this chalky substance has been used for ages to treat poisonings and drug overdoses, activated charcoal in lemonades and hangover pills seem to be a growing trend. However, Vogue warns that regular use may not be such a great idea because it can interfere with the absorption of other vital nutrients.

3. Maple water

Introduced as the alternative to coconut water, maple water stimulates the immune system and is loaded with abscisic acid (ABA), which helps move sugar out of the bloodstream. However, critics are not sure if this trend will still stand in 2017 as it has less flavor, fewer electrolytes, and is more expensive than coconut water.

4. Bone broth

Celebrities like Salma Hayek and Gwyneth Paltrow swear by it. Bone broth is rich in collagen, glutamine, glycine, and proline, all essential to muscle and ligament function and repair. Furthermore, the collagen has also been shown to reduce intestinal inflammation for a healthier gut.

5. Almond butter

According to researchers at the Harvard Medical School, a diet containing nuts can contribute to lessening the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. This overly delicious snack is believed to grow in popularity within the next year.

6. Banana flour

While you might not have heard of banana flour yet, it is on its way to rocking the superfood world. This gluten-free flour is an excellent prebiotic that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, which boost immunity and weight loss and improve overall health.

7. Acai bowls

If you haven’t seen an acai bowl passing by on Instagram, then you’ve probably lived under a rock for the greater part of 2016. Acai berries are the superstars when it comes to antioxidants that fight inflammation, lower oxidative stress, and promote brain health. Furthermore, they are packed with fibers and heart-healthy fats.

8. Kefir

In 2016, a lot of attention has gone to our gut health and pre- and probiotics. While many cultures have been drinking the fermented dairy beverage for centuries, the West has now jumped on the kefir bandwagon and has called it a superfood.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the most revered spices in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. Recently, word of turmeric’s powers has spread through the rest of the world. It works wonders in the treatment of chronic inflammation and has been linked to reducing the risk of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer.

10. LaCroix

Since the 1990s, LaCroix’s sugar-free seltzer water has been a favorite amongst Midwestern mothers. As more influential and famous people openly began popping cans of LaCroix’s sparkling water as a healthy alternative to soda, it has massively grown in popularity.

Sources:

Vogue.com

Shape.com

Health.Harvard.edu

Leafy greens

It is not surprising to find leafy greens on any sort of healthy food list, and they can be particularly helpful to those dealing with unhappiness and mood swings. Foods like bok choy, collards and kale are all chock-full of B vitamins like folate, helping your body to produce sufficient amounts of dopamine and serotonin. Best of all, they won’t increase your risk of committing suicide the way antidepressants do. In addition, their high fiber content helps to support a healthy gut.

Kimchee

Fermented foods in general can help to support healthy gut bacteria. Pickles, tempeh, yogurt and sauerkraut are all good choices, but Dr. Lester singles out kimchee as being particularly useful. When your gut flora is not in balance, it can directly affect the chemistry of your brain, bringing on depression and anxiety. Eating a small amount of fermented foods each day can help your brain remain calm when stress sets in.

One study found that participants who ate naturally fermented foods such as pickles, sauerkraut and kimchee experienced fewer symptoms of social anxiety, and those who benefited most from fermented foods were those who had a genetic predisposition to social anxiety disorder.

Coconut butter

Coconut is enjoying immense popularity right now among healthy eaters, with coconut oil and coconut water showing up in health food stores and regular grocery stores in increasing numbers. However, it is coconut butter that stands out from the pack. Dr. Lester likens it to “rocket fuel for the brain,” thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to support a healthy balance of hormones. It also contains more fiber than regular coconut oil. It can be added to oatmeal or even blended into your favorite cold brew coffee.

You can make coconut butter easily by placing some dried shredded coconut in a food processor and processing it until it forms a thick paste that is similar in consistency to peanut butter. This may take more than 10 minutes depending on your processor blender, so you need to be patient. Be sure to use unsweetened coconut. You can also add a bit of coconut oil if you are having trouble with the coconut flakes sticking to the side of your blender.

Water

It might sound simple, but a lot of people overlook the importance of drinking water. It is not only important for your physical health, but also for your mental health. Studies have found that even mild dehydration can lower people’s moods. You need to keep your brain hydrated if you want to be in a positive mood, so Dr. Lester recommends a daily water intake of half your body weight in ounces.

Of course, any time you drink water, you’ll want to make sure you are using clean water that does not contain any heavy metals or other toxins. Remaining hydrated throughout your day is a better approach than skipping water for most of the day and then downing a lot of it at once later on to compensate.

The next time you find your mood in need of a lift, whether you’re feeling unhappy or fatigued, try eating one of these mood-lifting foods and consider incorporating them into your regular diet.

 Sources include:

A year-end look at superfoods: What’s good, bad and just odd